Greek-Australian politician and former Perth mayor, Basil Zempilas, has won the seat of Churchlands in Western Australia’s state election, positioning himself as a potential contender for the Liberal Party leadership.
Despite the Labor Party securing a third consecutive term in a decisive victory, Zempilas’s win has sparked speculation about his future within the struggling Liberals.
He has claimed that a “brutal” campaign was waged against him, with opponents spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to challenge his candidacy.
When pressed by journalist Nadia Mitsopoulos on whether he would seek the Liberal leadership, Zempilas declined to comment, saying “Nadia, I don’t answer hypothetical questions.”
The WA Liberal party, which has been in opposition since 2017, faces a leadership vacuum following another poor electoral performance.
With only a handful of seats secured, Zempilas is emerging as one of the party’s few high-profile figures.
Meanwhile, other Greek Australian candidates Steve Kefalinos (One Nation – Vasse), Amanda Kailis (Liberal – Pilbara), and Michael Kannis (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers – Joondalup) were unsuccessful in their election bids.
